Among the
attributes essential for man’s spiritual as well as worldly progress
and prosperity are Sabr (patience) and Shukr (gratitude).

The conditions and
circumstances which occur to man, be these voluntary or involuntary
are of two types: pleasing or displeasing. If the circumstances occurring
to man are pleasing, he should consider these as favours from Allah
Ta’ala and offer his heartfelt appreciation and gratitude. He
should consider such bounties more than what he actually deserved and
verbally he should recite the praises of Allah Ta’ala. Furthermore,
he must not employ such bounties of Allah Ta’ala in sinful avenues,
e.g. spending wealth in un-Islamic customs; using one’s strength
influence and knowledge in ways deprecated by the Shariah. This is the
meaning of Shukr.

On the otherhand,
the circumstances arising may be displeasing, causing anxiety and difficulty
to one. When man is confronted with such conditions, he should consider
that in these untoward condition Allah Ta’ala has placed some
benefit which is not discernable ordinarily. Such conditions are subject
to Allah’s wisdom and they are for the betterment of the one involved
in the displeasing condition. The attitude of the Mu’min in such
circumstances should be one of resignation. He should not complain nor
display impatience. If the displeasing occurrence is a command of the
Shariah, he should adhere to it firmly and not permit frustration and
worry to overtake him. If the condition is some calamity which has befallen
him, he must bear it with firmness and not be overwhelmed by despondency.
This is the meaning of Sabr.

Of the two attributes,
Sabr is the more difficult. This attribute is more in demand since man
is confronted more with circumstances which are displeasing and difficult
to him. As examples, some conditions of displeasure will be cited here.

· The nafs
of man becomes agitated and perplexed at the imposition of Deeni duties
which have to be rendered. It thus attempts to escape such acts which
are commanded by Allah Ta’ala. It desires the commission of haraam
and seeks a release from the obligations of Salaat, Saum, etc. It becomes
displeased when an unlawful source of income has to be banished. It
feels a great burden in discharging the rights of others. In such cases
man has to adopt courage and suppress the baneful urges and dictates
of the nafs. He has necessarily to overcome his urges of the nafs and
proceed undaunted with the execution of the commands of Allah Ta’ala,
irrespective of the displeasure the nafs suffers. Such displeasure and
apparent difficulty will be short-lived. Firmness and harnessing the
nafs into obedience will very quickly produce comfort and peace. The
initial displeasure will be transformed into pleasure.

· The calamities
of poverty, sickness, death, persecution by enemies, loss of property,
etc. When confronted by such misfortunes, reflect on the possible wisdoms
underlying these calamities. The greatest benefit to be achieved from
such displeasing conditions is thawaab from Allah Ta’ala. Allah
Ta’ala has promised great reward for the Believer overtaken by
calamities.

When such calamities
befall man, he should not unnecessarily publicize them nor should he
meditate on these misfortunes. He should not make these misfortunes
the occupation of his mind. Adoption of this attitude will create peace
in the heart. However, if there are lawful ways and means of combating
the calamity, these should be adopted.

· An oppressor
creating obstacles in the way of the Deen. One is thwarted by an unjust
person in the execution of one’s Islamic duties or attempts are
made to bring disrepute and insult on the Deen. When confronted by such
opposition, The Mu’min holds life cheap. Do not consider life
to be of any importance in the endeavour to elevate the Word of Allah
Ta’ala. But, this does not mean the creation of anarchy based
on desire. Even in the endeavour to uphold the Shariah, the Shariah-the
Law of Allah mut not be violated.

The above are some
examples of conditions in which Sabr has to be adopted. Some narrations
in this regard will now be cited.

1. Allah Ta’ala
says in the Qur’aan”

“Seek aid with
Sabr and Salaat.” (Surah Baqarah)

If love of wealth
and love of fame over whelm man and impede the development of his Imaan-as
it will most certainly do-he should engage in Sabr and abundance of
Salaat, for this will most assuredly fortify him against the onslaught
of this nafs. The form of Sabr advocate in this aayat is abstention
from the desires and dictates of the nafs.

2. “We shall
certainly test you by means of some fear, poverty, loss of wealth and
life. And, give glad tidings (of thawaab) to those who adopt Sabr (in
the face of these calamities). (Surah Baqarah)

3. Regarding the Preservence and fortitude of some nations of the past,
Allah Ta’ala says:

“They lost
not courage because of the hardships which confronted them in the Path
of Allah. They were not weakened nor were they awed by the enemy. Allah
Ta’ala loves such Saabireen (those who are steadfast and have
patience).” (Sura Aale Imraan)

Men of Allah are
steadfast in the face of the enemy. Hardships and obstacles confronting
them in their journey towards Allah Ta’ala do not deter them.
Their fortitude and steadfastness-their Sabr-are such that they do not
descend to flattering the enemies of Allah Ta’ala. Their gaze
is focused on Allah Ta’ala and they know that victory is theirs.

4. Allah Ta’ala
says:

“Those who
are patient (have Sabr in their Deeni activities), we will most certainly
reward them for their good acts.” (Surah Nahl)

“……
the men who have Sabr and the women who have Sabr ….. for them
all, Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward (Surah
Ahzaab)

All forms of Sabr
are included in this aayat. Sabr in regard to ibaadat, Sabr in regard
to sin and Sabr in regard to calamities are within the purview of this
aayat which promises great reward and forgiveness for the Saabireen.

“Shall I inform
you of something by means of which Allah eliminates sin and elevates
ranks? Performing a perfect wudhu when making wudhu is displeasing (to
the nafs), walking much to the Musjid, and waiting anxiously for the
arrival of another salaat after having performed one Salaat……”
(Muslim, Tirmizi)

6. hadhrat Abu Darda
(radiallahu anhu) narrates:

“My Beloved
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) made wasiyyat to me that I should not commit
shirk with Allah Ta’ala even if my flesh is cut up and even if
I am cast into a fire….” (Ibn majah)

Preservence on such
occasions is a high rank of Sabr. However, in cases o brutality and
torture, the Qur’aan hakeem grants permission to make a verbal
declaration of even kufr provided that the heart does not deny Imaan.
The extraction of anti-Imaan statements from a person under torture
does not come within the Islamic definition of kufr and shirk.

7. Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas
(radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
once appointed Hadhrat Abu Musa (radiallahu anhu) as commander of an
army which was dispatched on an expedition by sea. In the darkness of
the night while the ship was sailing, a caller from above the ship exclaimed:

“O occupants
of the ship! Let me inform you of something which Allah Ta’ala
has undertaken as His responsibility.”

Hadhrat Abu Musa
(radiallahu anhu) answered:

“If you have
something to tell us then speak up.”

The Caller called
out:

“Allah Ta’ala
has undertaken the responsibility of quenching the thirst on the Day
of Qiyaamah of those who remained thirsty during fasting on hot days.”
(Targheeb)

“A man who
remains with Sabr and with the niyyat of thawaab at a place overtaken
by an epidemic and believing that only what Allah has decreed will happen,
will attain the thawaab which a shaheed (martyr) obtains.” (Bukhari,
Muslim)

“There is nothing
but Jannat for the one who is patient and hopes for thawaab when I take
away someone beloved to him.” (Bukhari)

Sabri is of great
merit especially on occasions of death of near and dear ones.

16. Hadhrat Abu Musa
Ash’ari (radiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said that Allah Ta’ala orders the Malaaikah to
erect a special mansion in Jannat for the one who had exercised patience
and praised Allah Ta’ala when an infant had passed away. The name
given to such a special place in Jannat is ‘Baitul Hamd’.
(Ahmad, Tirmizi)

“Allah Ta’ala
loves three persons to whom He directs His special Gaze of Mercy ….
(Among the three, one is) a man who is prepared to sacrifice his life
in the Path of Allah, whether he actually loses his life or Allah Ta’ala
grants him victory (over the enemy). In regard to such a person, Allah
Ta’ala says: ‘Look at this servant of Mine! How he has dedicated
his life to My cause! (Targheeb)

Sufficient narrations
have been cited to indicate the significance and importance of Sabr.

Shukr will now be
explained.

Shukr is an ibaadat.
A characteristic of Shukr is that it simplifies the ibaadat of Sabr.
A man who has adopted Shukr will take calamity and hardship in his stride.
Since he realizes the tremendous bounties of Allah Ta’ala on him,
hence his gratitude, he will understand that the hardship has been imposed
on him by his Benefactor, Allah Ta’ala, in his own interests.
His mind in thus conditioned to accept all hardships with resignations
and without complaint. For the sake of gaining thawaab he will bear
the hardships without being overwhelmed by frustration. On the contrary
he will derive pleasure from the realization that the hardship has been
imposed on him by his Benefactor, Allah Ta’ala.

A man of Shukr (gratitude)
reflects on the ni’mats bestowed on him by Allah Ta’ala.
Such reflection strengthens the bond of love between man and his Benefactor.
He cannot, therefore, become despondent and break down in the face of
difficulties which he realizes are trials from the side of his Creator
and benefactor Who has always showered him with His numerous blessings
and Bounties. Thus, Sabr, based on the attitude of Shukr becomes a simple
matter for the one overcome by calamities and hardships.

Some narrations regarding
Shukr will now be cited.

1. Allah Ta’ala
says:

“Remember Me
and I will remember you. Be grateful to Me and be not ungrateful. (Surah
Baqarah)

2. “If you are
grateful for My bounties, I will increase (these) for you. If you are
ungrateful, then My punishment is severe.” (Surah Ibraheem)

“Whoever has
attained four things has attained the goodness of this world and the
Aakhirah. These are: A heart which makes Shukr; a tongue which makes
Thikr; a body which adopts Sabr when overtaken by trials and tribulations;
and, a wife who is chaste and does not abuse the wealth of her husband.”
(Baihaqi)

It is a fact that
the life of man is always confronted by some condition or the other.
He may by involved in pleasing or displeasing circumstances. When enjoying
pleasing conditions, man has to be grateful. He has to show Shukr. When
apprehended by displeasing conditions, he has to adopted Sabr. Thus
Shukr and Sabr are attributes which are to be applied at all times.
Remember this well and you will live a life of peace and comfort.